Connecting Strip Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided including an elongated strip having a plurality of spaced apart segments, each segment defining a through opening, and a plurality of connecting zones, each connecting zone located between and separating two adjacent spaced apart segments. The plurality of spaced apart segments are sized and structured to allow at least one segment to be passed into, through and out of the through opening of at least one other segment. Methods of using such apparatus are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods of using apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to apparatus which include a strip apparatus, for example, an elongated strip, which can be configured to be secured to, or to hold to itself to retain in place, one or more objects, for example, by forming one or more loops or one or more loops inside one or more loops, to form a loop to secure or to hold one or more objects to the strip and/or to other objects.

Fasteners are used in many industrial, medical, consumer and other applications to hold or secure one object in place, two or more objects together and the like. The prior art includes a wide variety of differently structured fasteners. Often, these prior fasteners include an elongated belt with closure means at each end of the belt and are designed for a specifically sized application. Other fasteners are structured to be closed using a separate tool. See, for example, Evans U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,095. Still other fasteners require a large or substantially large deformation, e.g., bending, folding and the like, of one element of the fastener to allow the one element to then be forced into another fastener element on the same structure. See, for example, Evans U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,095 and Harsley U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,376. Other fastener structures can be connected to themselves by making interference connections which involve working one side of a segment past a restriction and then the other side of the segment past the restriction, as in Katz et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,250. This takes significant time to make a connection requiring a number of segments, and thus, makes such a structure inconvenient and time-consuming to use. In addition, some fasteners are designed for a single use, for example, so that once the fastener is in place, it can only be removed by destroying the fastener.

There continues to be a need for new apparatus, for example, which address one or more of the issues present in existing apparatus, for example, in the existing fasteners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

New apparatus and methods of using apparatus have been discovered. The present apparatus and methods are useful and effective in a wide variety of applications, for example, and without limitation, in which one or more objects are to be secured in place, in which two or more objects are to be secured or fastened together, in which an object is benefited by having the present apparatus secured to it and the like applications.

The present apparatus may be cost effectively produced, for example, from readily available materials and/or in various sizes, for example, to suit the requirements of the desired application in which the apparatus is to be employed. The present apparatus are easy to use, for example, as a general purpose tie and in other applications. For example, a human, without the assistance of a separate implement or tool, can easily use the present apparatus to tie, that is to secure or fasten, together two or more objects very quickly and easily using a low or reduced amount of movement or passing force which can easily be provided by a single human without the assistance of a separate implement or tool. The present apparatus are effective when used, for example, in a wide variety of applications, and may be, for example, is reusable, which enhances cost effectiveness. The present apparatus may be discarded or disposed of after a single use, for example, in medical applications, and still be cost effective. A single size embodiment of the present apparatus may be used in a variety of applications. The present apparatus may be deployed simply, for example, by applying a movement force to one portion of the apparatus relative to another portion of the apparatus. Also, when in use, the present apparatus may have a relatively compact, e.g., substantially flat, profile, for example, which allows the apparatus to be relatively inconspicuous while still being effective in performing its intended function.

In one broad aspect, the present invention is directed to an apparatus comprising a strip comprising a plurality of spaced apart segments, each segment defining a through opening, and a plurality of connecting zones, with each connecting zone located between and separating two adjacent spaced apart segments. The plurality of spaced apart segments are sized and structured to allow at least one segment to be passed into, through and out of the through opening of at least one other segment. At least one, for example, one, more than one or even substantially all of the connecting zones, is (are) structured to be more flexible than the adjacent spaced apart segments between the at least one connecting zone.

In another broad aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided which comprises an elongated strip comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart segments and a plurality of connecting zones, each connecting zone coupled to and located between two adjacent segments. Each of the segments includes an outer rim and a through opening defined by the outer rim. At least one, for example, both the outer rim and the through opening of each of the segments may have substantially ovoid (or oval) shapes. The segments are sized and structured to allow one segment, for example, more than one segment, to pass into, through and out of the through opening of at least one other segment, and at least one, for example, more than one or all, of the connecting zones is (are) structured to be more flexible than the adjacent spaced apart segments between the at least one connecting zone.

Without wishing to limit the invention to any particular theory of operation, it is believed that the presence of the connecting zones between adjacent, spaced apart segments in the apparatus are effective in providing substantial benefits, for example, in terms of broad utility, ease of use, rapid deployment capability, reduced force required to deploy the apparatus, increased load capacity of deployed apparatus, and other benefits, for example, as will become apparent hereinafter. Moreover, it is believed that the connecting zones together with the segments of the present apparatus are sized and structured so as to be effective in providing benefits, as described herein, that are not attainable using prior systems or structures, for example, such systems or structures without connecting zones and/or one or more other features of the present apparatus.

In an additional broad aspect of the invention, a method of securing a strip apparatus to one or more objects is provided. The method comprises placing an apparatus, for example comprising a strip, e.g., a strip apparatus in accordance with the present invention, as described herein in contact with one or more objects; and causing one or more segments of the apparatus to be passed into and through one or more other segments, for example, so as to form a loop defined by the strip, to effectively secure the strip to the one or more objects.

In one embodiment, the passing step comprises passing a number of the segments into and through the through opening of another segment to form a loop of a desired size in the strip. For example, the loop in the strip may be sized so that the strip is effectively held to an object or objects located within the loop.

Such causing step and passing step may be, and advantageously are, carried out by a single human being without using a separate tool. In one embodiment, the causing step and/or passing step may be carried out by other means, such as mechanical and/or automated assembly means and/or the like, for example, when the strip or strip apparatus in accordance with the present invention is designed for and/or is subjected to deployment load conditions in excess or greater than deployment load conditions which can reasonably be obtained by a single human being.

In a still further broad aspect of the present invention, a method of securing a strip apparatus, for example, as described elsewhere herein, to one or more objects is provided. Such method comprises placing the strip apparatus in contact with one or more objects. In one embodiment, the strip apparatus comprises an elongated strip comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart segments and a plurality of connecting zones, each connecting zone coupled to, and located between two adjacent segments. Each of the segments includes an outer rim and a through opening defined by the outer rim. Both the outer rim and the through opening may have substantially ovoid (oval) shapes. The segments are sized and structured so that two or more segments can pass into, through and out of the through opening of at least one other segment. At least one, for example two or more, or all, of the connecting zones is (are) structured to be more flexible than the adjacent spaced apart segments between which the at least one connecting zone is located. The method further comprises passing a number of the segments into, through and out of the through opening of another segment to form a loop in the strip apparatus to effectively secure the strip apparatus to the one or more objects.

In a particularly useful embodiment, each outer rim and each through opening has a major axis or diameter and a minor axis or diameter of reduced size relative to the major axis or diameter. The passing step comprises placing a first segment (an encircling segment) of the strip apparatus and a second segment (a through segment) of the strip apparatus in close proximity relative to each other, for example, so that the major diameter (axis) of the first segment is tilted or positioned relative to the major diameter (axis) of the second segment, and applying a passing or movement force to cause a portion of the second segment including a portion of the major diameter (axis) of the second segment to pass through the through opening of the first segment and, thereafter, to cause the remainder of the second segment including the remainder of the major diameter (axis) of the second segment to pass through the through opening of the first segment, for example, thereby passing the entire second segment into, through and out of the through opening of the first segment, sequentially.

In one embodiment, after the second segment has been passed into, through and out of the first segment, and the strip apparatus is put under a load, for example, holding an object or objects, the relatively flexible connecting zones allow the strip apparatus to have a higher load bearing capacity relative to an identical strip apparatus without the connecting zones.

In another aspect of the present invention, as discussed in detail elsewhere herein, using the present strip apparatus one can pass a number of segments into, through and out of the through opening of another segment quickly, for example, in rapid succession, and with a reduced or even greatly reduced, amount of force, for example, relative to the load bearing capacity of the strip apparatus, to rapidly and effectively obtain the desired configuration of the present apparatus, for example, for the intended application.

Various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail in the detailed description below. Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, any feature or combination of features may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of the present invention. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, drawings, examples, and additional disclosure.

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are described in the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like parts bear like reference numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial front plan view showing a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial side plan view showing a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial front view of an additional apparatus in accordance with the present invention, for example, produced by die cutting.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the additional apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partial view in perspective showing a portion of an alternate apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a partial view in perspective showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 with one of the ends thereof passing into a through opening of one of the segments of the apparatus.

FIG. 7B is a side plan view taken along line 7B-7B of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A is a partial view in perspective showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing an encircling segment up against and tilted relative to a through segment.

FIG. 8B is a side plan view taken along line 8B-8B of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A is a partial view in perspective showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing a portion of the through segment passed through the through opening of the encircling segment.

FIG. 9B is a side plan view taken along line 9B-9B of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is a partial view in perspective showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 in position ready for rapid passing of a number of through segments into, through and out of the through opening of an encircling segment.

FIG. 10B is a side plan view taken along line 10B-10B of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11A is a partial view in perspective showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the encircling segment positioned over the top of the second through segment.

FIG. 11B is a side plan view taken along line 11B-11B of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A is a partial view in perspective showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 after the second through segment has passed completely through the through opening of the encircling segment.

FIG. 12B is a side plan view taken along line 12B-12B of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 13A is a partial view in perspective showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 after a desired number of through segments has passed through the through opening of the encircling segment.

FIG. 13B is a side plan view taken along line 13B-13B of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 in use holding together or fastening together a number of different tubes.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 in use secured, in a low profile configuration, to a single object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, the present apparatus or strip apparatus comprises a strip, for example, an elongated strip, including a plurality of spaced apart segments, each segment defining a through opening; and a plurality of connecting zones, each connecting zone being located between and separating two adjacent spaced apart segments.

One embodiment of the present apparatus may be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Thus, the present apparatus 10 comprises an elongated strip 12 including a first end 14 and an oppositely disposed second end 16. Along the length of the elongated strip 12 are a plurality of segments 18. Between the segments 18 are connecting zones 20, for example, each having a finite, relatively short length. The width (along the dimension W in FIG. 2) of connecting zones 20 is reduced relative to the maximum width of the segments. The first and second ends 14 and 16 are devoid of (do not include) any segments or connecting zones. However, it is to be understood that the segments and/or connecting zones can extend to one or both ends of the elongated strip in accordance with the present invention.

As is discussed elsewhere herein, when deployed in a desired application, elongated strip 12 may be formed into a loop 22, as shown in FIG. 1, or into two or more loops. When not in use, elongated strip 12 may or may not be formed into a loop.

In addition, elongated strip 12 may have one or more linking regions, for example, flexible linking regions, such as region 24, which include neither segments nor connecting zones. Such linking regions add to the length of the elongated strip or may provide useful ends, such as ends 14 and 16, if the elongated strip is cut into two at region 24.

The elongated strip 12 has a length, e.g., from first end 14 to second end 16, along which the plurality of spaced apart segments 18 and the plurality of connecting zones 20 extend side by side, and a width and a thickness which are perpendicular to each other and to the length. The length of elongated strip 12 may be larger than the width and the width of elongated strip 12 may be larger than the thickness.

This is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 which show different views of the same portion of elongated strip 12. In particular, FIG. 2 shows the direction of the length (L) and width (W) dimensions of elongated strip 12; and FIG. 3 shows the direction of the length and thickness (T) dimensions of strip 12.

Each of the segments 18 include a through opening 19, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The segments 18 may be considered to be outer rims surrounding or defining the through openings 19. The segments 18 and through openings 19 may be of any suitable size and shape, that is may be of any size and shape selected so that the strip apparatus can effectively perform its function in a desired application, for example, as described herein. In one embodiment, each of the segments 18 is of substantially the same size and/or of substantially the same shape, and/or each of the through openings 19 is of substantially the same size and/or of substantially the same shape. The segments 18 and through openings 19 may have curved sidewalls, for example, along the length (L) and/or width (W) and/or thickness of the elongated strip 12.

In a useful embodiment, the walls of the segments 18 and/or the connecting zones 20 are substantially smooth, for example, do not include any outwardly or inwardly extending projections which could hamper the movement of one segment or segments relative to other segments, as discussed elsewhere herein. This is in contrast to certain prior art structures which employ one or more of such projections to lock or secure portions of such structures together during use. In one embodiment, the cross-section of the walls of the outer rims of the segments has rounded or curved corners, for example, as opposed to square or sharply angled corners.

Each segment 18 and/or through opening 19 may have a major transverse dimension, for example, a major diameter (or axis) 28, and a minor transverse dimension, for example, a minor diameter (or axis) 30, located perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other.

In one embodiment, each segment 18 and/or each through opening 19 is substantially ovoid (oval) or substantially elliptical in shape. In one embodiment, each segment 18 has a substantial continuously curved outer perimeter 32 and/or each through opening 19 has a substantially continuously curved outer perimeter 34. The outer perimeter 34 of the through opening 19 may also be considered to be the inner perimeter of the segment 18. The major transverse dimension (diameter) of each segment 18 and/or each through opening 19 may be along or parallel to the width (W) of the elongated strip 12 and the minor transverse dimension (diameter or axis) may be along or parallel to the length (L) of the elongated strip 12. The length ratio of the major transverse dimension (diameter or axis) to the minor transverse dimension (diameter or axis) of the segments 18 and through openings 19 may vary widely, for example, may be in a range of about 1.2 or less to about 5 or more.

The present strip apparatus 10 and/or the elongated strip 12 may be structured to allow at least one segment 18 to be passed into, through and out of the through opening 19 of one other segment or more than one other segments, for example, a plurality of times without substantially or significantly adversely affecting the segments, the connecting zones, the elongated strip and/or the strip apparatus. In effect, the present strip apparatus 10 may be reusable. However, in certain applications, for example, in medical, surgical and the like applications, the present strip apparatus 10 may be discarded or not reused after a single use to avoid potential issues, such as contamination and the like.

In one embodiment, the strip apparatus 10 may be structured to allow at least one segment 18, that is one segment 18 or more than one segments 18, to be passed into, through and out of the through opening of one other segment or more than one other segments 18 without the use of a separate tool, for example, manually, such as by a single adult human. This is advantageous in that the strip apparatus 10 can be used quickly and effectively by a human without having to carry a separate tool to assist in deploying the apparatus in a desired application. Also, this feature enhances the usefulness, ease of use and cost effectiveness of the present strip apparatus, such as strip apparatus 10.

The size, for example, the length, width, thickness and structure or configuration of the connecting zones may be chosen to provide the desired degree of at least one of holding strength, ease of assembly and flexibility to the elongated strip or strip apparatus. For example, the maximum size of each of the connecting zones along the length (L) of elongated strip may be at least about 10% or at least about 20% to about 50% or about 70% or more of the maximum size of the segments along the width (W) of the elongated strip.

In one embodiment, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, each of the connecting zones 20 may include a through hole 26, for example, and without limitation, having a substantially circular configuration. Such through holes 26 are useful in increasing the flexibility of the connecting zones 20.

Each of the plurality of segments 18 and the plurality of connecting zones 20 has a maximum thickness. In one embodiment, for example, as best shown in FIG. 3, the maximum thickness of each of the connecting zones 20 is reduced, for example, by an amount in a range of about 1% to about 95% or about 5% to about 90% or about 10% to about 85% or about 20% to about 75% or about 30% to about 60% relative to the maximum thickness of the adjacent spaced apart segments between which the connecting zone 20 is located. Such reduced thickness or maximum thickness is effective in increasing the flexibility of the connecting zones 20 relative to the flexibility of the segments 18. Also, having connecting zones 20 with reduced thickness relative to the thickness of the adjacent segments 18 facilitates the ability of the apparatus 10 to assume a more compact, e.g., more flat or substantially flat, profile when the strip apparatus 10 is deployed in use, for example, under an applied tensile load. This feature allows the apparatus, upon deployment, to sustain or effectively withstand a higher tensile load relative to an identical apparatus without the reduced thickness connecting zones.

Although the strip apparatus 10 shown in the drawings includes connecting zones 20 with both a through hole 26 and reduced thickness (relative to segments 20), strip apparatus which include only one of such features, that is connecting zones with only through holes or only reduced thickness, may be employed and are included within the scope of the present claims.

The connecting zones 20 have a width which is reduced relative to the maximum width of the segments 18. The connecting zones 20 may have a reduced width relative to the width of the through opening 19 of the segments. Such reduced width or widths facilitate positioning the segments relative to each other to allow one or more through segments to pass into, through and out of the through opening of an encircling segment easily, rapidly and/or with reduced force in deploying the strip apparatus 10 in a desired use application and/or enhance the ability of the strip apparatus 10 to nestle the segments more closely when under load to thereby hold higher tensile loads at a connection between through and encircling segments. To illustrate this, FIGS. 4 and 5 show an additional strip apparatus 110 in accordance with the present invention. Except as expressly disclosed herein, additional strip apparatus 110 is structured and functions similarly to strip apparatus 10. Features in FIGS. 4 and 5 which correspond to features in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are identified by the same reference numerals increased by 100.

Additional strip apparatus 110 includes elongated strip 112, segments 118, through openings 119, and connecting zones 120. The primary differences between strip apparatus 110 and strip apparatus 10 include the feature that the maximum thickness of the segments 18 and the maximum thickness of the connecting zones 120 are substantially equal. This is different than the structure of strip apparatus 10. In addition, an enlarged, e.g. elongated (e.g., in a direction parallel to the width of the elongated strip 112) through slot 27, for example have a generally oblong shape or configuration, is included in each of the connecting zones 120. Such enlarged through slots 27 are used in place of the smaller, substantially circular through holes 26 in elongated strip 12. The enlarged through slots (which can be considered through holes or enlarged through holes) 27 compensate for the increased thickness of connecting zones 120 relative to connecting zones 20. In effect, such enlarged through slots 27 are effective in providing the desired degree of increased flexibility to the connecting zones 120 in spite of the increased thickness of such connecting zones, for example, relative to the reduced thickness of the connecting zones 20. In one embodiment, strip apparatus 110 may be produced using die cutting processing methods, for example, conventional die cutting processing methods.

The present strip apparatus may have a unitary structure, and/or may be a molded structure. The strip apparatus may be overmolded end to end for example, to provide elongated strips having varying lengths, such as increased continuous lengths, so that the apparatus may be produced for use in a wide variety of applications including, for example, strip portions provided off of a continuous reeled strip.

Any suitable material of construction may be used in the present strip apparatus. In one useful embodiment, the strip apparatus 10 comprises a polymeric material, for example, a flexible polymeric material, such as a polymeric material having any effective degree of flexibility and strength to be sufficiently flexible to be easily and/or quickly deployed and to be substantially strong and durable to be effective when deployed, that is when in use. In one embodiment, the material of construction should be chosen to allow the strip apparatus to be removed from service or the application without damaging the apparatus, so that the apparatus can be again used in a similar or different application. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a material selected from a thermoplastic polymeric material or a thermosetting polymeric material.

Examples of useful polymeric materials of construction of the present strip apparatus include, without limitation, polyurethanes, polyolefins, for example and without limitation, polypropylene and the like, polyamides, for example and without limitation, nylons, such as relatively stiff polyamides (nylons), and the like and mixtures thereof and combinations thereof. The useful materials of construction may be such as to exhibit desired or effective elastomeric properties when in the form of a strip or elongated strip as described herein. Polyamide materials, for example, nylons and the like, are particularly useful in applications in which high strip strength, high creep resistance and/or high connection strength is desired. Other polymeric materials having high tensile strength, for example, materials useful at ambient or room temperature, may be employed. Other materials of construction, such as metals, composites including polymeric materials, metals, layered materials and the like and combinations thereof may be employed.

The presently useful materials of construction may have, for example, do have, a sufficient degree of flexibility to allow one or more segments to pass into, through and out of a through opening of one other segment or more than one other segment. The presently useful materials of construction may have, for example, do have, sufficient strength and/or stability to be useful in an application for which the strip apparatus is intended to be used. For example, once one or more segments are passed into, through and out of the through opening of one other segment or the through openings of more than one other segments, and the apparatus is deployed or in use for its intended purpose, the strip apparatus may be sufficiently strong so as not to break under load conditions approximating the tensile strength of the material of construction of the strip apparatus and/or so as not to allow the segment or segments to pass into, through and out of the through opening or openings of one or more other segments, for example, to allow the apparatus to open up, without human intervention.

In one embodiment, the strip apparatus 10, e.g., elongated strip 12, further comprises at least one portion which is devoid of segments and connecting zones. Such portions may be located between the portions of the strip apparatus 10 or elongated strip 12 which include segments 18 and connecting zones 20, such as blank zone 24, or may be located at the end or ends of the strip apparatus or elongated strip. For example, the strip apparatus 10 may further comprise at least one end zone located at an end of the strip apparatus 10 or elongated strip 12 which is devoid of segments 18 or connecting zones 20. In one embodiment, the strip or elongated strip comprises two end zones, such as end zones 14 and 16, located at opposing ends of the elongated strip 12 which are devoid of segments or connecting zones. Such end zones are useful in providing a tab or end tab which can be easily held in a human hand and inserted into and through the through opening of a segment and pulled, by human fingers, to allow the segment closest to the end tab to be passed into, through and out of the through opening of another segment, for example, in forming the strip apparatus into one or more loops.

As noted above, the strip apparatus 10 comprises an elongated strip 12 structured so that at least one segment 18, that is one segment 18 or more than one segment 18, may be passed into, through and out of the through opening 19 of one other segment 18 or more than one other segment 18.

In one embodiment, a method of deploying a strip apparatus, such as strip apparatus 10, is provided. This method comprises providing a strip apparatus, such as strip apparatus 10, and causing one or more segments to be passed into, through and out of the through hole of one or more other segments.

This causing step may be conducted manually, for example, by a single adult human, and/or with the use of a separate tool or without the use of a separate tool. The causing step may comprise placing a first segment, sometimes referred to herein as an encircling segment, and a second segment, sometimes referred to herein as a through segment, in close proximity relative to each other, for example, so that the major diameter (axis) of the first or encircling segment is tilted or positioned, for example, at a relatively small or shallow acute angle, such as an angle in a range of between about 5° to about 15°, e.g., about 10°, relative to the major diameter (axis) of the second or through segment, and applying a movement or passing force, for example, a manually applied passing force, to cause a portion of the second or through segment including a portion of the major diameter (axis) of the second segment to pass through the through opening of the first or encircling segment and, thereafter, to cause the remainder of the second segment, including the remainder of the major diameter of the second segment to pass through the through opening of the first segment, sequentially. A similar sequence of steps can be used or repeated to cause additional segments to pass, for example, one at a time, into, through and out of the through opening of the first segment.

This movement or passing force may be reduced relative to an alternate movement or passing force required to cause the second segment to pass through the through opening of the first segment with the entire major diameter (axis) of the through opening of the first or encircling segment passing over the entire major diameter of the second or through segment at the same time.

The present methods of deploying a strip apparatus may employ elongated strip 12 in which the thickness, e.g., maximum thickness, of the connecting zones is reduced relative to the thickness, e.g., maximum thickness, of the adjacent spaced apart segments between which the connecting zone is located. In this embodiment, the segments not included in the loop formed in the elongated strip by passing one or more segments into, through and out of the through hole of another segment may be positioned closer to the segments within the loop, resulting in the strip apparatus having a more compact or more flat use profile, relative to an identical loop made of a strip in which the thickness, e.g., maximum thickness, of each of the plurality of segments and the thickness, e.g., maximum thickness, of each of the connecting zones are equal.

An alternate strip apparatus 210 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 6. Except as expressly disclosed herein, alternate strip apparatus 210 is structured and functions similarly to strip apparatus 10. Features shown in FIG. 6 which correspond to features in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are identified by the same reference numerals increased by 200.

Alternate strip apparatus 210 includes segments 218, and connecting zones 220. The primary difference between apparatus 10 and alternate apparatus 210 is that segments 218 include wall portions which are chamfered. Such chamfering results in a narrowing of inner wall portions 29 of segments 218 relative to the oppositely disposed outer wall portions 31. The chamfering provides segments 218 with sloped side surface portions extending outwardly from the narrowed wall portions toward the outer wall portions 31. The narrowed inner wall portions 29 and the sloped side surface portions 33 have substantially the same dimension or a slightly larger dimension as the connecting zones 220 along the width (W) of alternate apparatus 210.

Such chamfering is effective in facilitating alternate apparatus 210 having a flatter deployed configuration under load, e.g., tensile load, conditions relative to an identical strip apparatus without such chamfered narrowed inner wall portions and sloped side surface portions, as described herein. Moreover, such more compact or flatter deployed configuration is provided without substantially detrimentally affecting the holding strength of the apparatus deployed under tensile load conditions.

FIGS. 7A-9B demonstrate the sequential passing of one segment of a strip apparatus, such as strip apparatus 10 of FIG. 1, into, through and out of the through opening of another segment.

In FIGS. 7 and 7A, the end 14 of the elongated strip 12 is placed into the through opening 19 of a segment 18 of the strip so that the strip is now ready to be linked together, for example, to form a loop. The end 14 of the elongated strip 12 is very conveniently and easily passed into the through opening of a segment of the strip.

The passing of one segment 18 into, through and out of the through opening 19 of another segment 18 is illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, an encircling segment, identified as segment “J”, is tilted relative to a through segment, identified as segment “K”, so that the major axis of the encircling segment J is at an angle, for example, of about 10°, relative to the major axis of the through segment K. Upon manually applying a passing (pulling) force to the end 14, a portion of through segment K is passed into and through the through opening of encircling segment J. The direction of this passing movement is as shown by the arrow in FIG. 8B. At this point, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a portion of the major diameter of through segment K extends into and through the through opening of encircling segment J.

Once this is accomplished, it is relatively easy, for example, by the continued manual application of the passing force, to cause the other or remaining portion of the major diameter of the through segment K to pass into, through and out of the through opening of encircling segment J. The direction of this second passing movement is shown by the arrow in FIG. 9B.

This sequential method can be repeated, for example, one, two or more times, as desired so that a plurality of through segments K pass into, through and out of the through opening of through segment K.

In effect, in the embodiment discussed immediately above, the present passing step provides a sequential movement of one segment, a through segment into, through and out of the through opening of another segment, an encircling segment. This is accomplished by passing one portion of the major diameter of a through segment into, through and out of the through opening of an encircling segment and, thereafter, causing the remainder of the major diameter of the through segment to pass into, through and out of the through opening of the encircling segment. This sequence of steps may be conducted relatively slowly. The amount of passing force required for this sequential method is reduced relative to the amount of force needed to pass one segment into, through and out of the through opening of another segment with the major diameter of the one or through segment passed into, through and out of the through opening of the other or encircling segment with the major diameters of the segments be aligned, for example, so that the entire major diameter of the through segment passes into, through and out of the through opening of the encircling segment at the same time, rather than sequentially as described herein.

The above-noted sequential passing step can be repeated to cause additional through segments to pass into, through and out of the through opening of the encircling segment.

In one aspect of the present invention, a more rapid or less time consuming method for deploying an apparatus has been discovered which is very useful with one or more embodiments of the present strip apparatus, such as strip apparatus 10 and other embodiments illustrated in the drawings and/or discussed herein.

This rapid deployment method is illustrated in FIGS. 10A-13B.

In FIGS. 10A and 10B, elongated strip 12 is shown with one through segment K having already been passed into, through and out of the through opening of encircling segment J. This may be accomplished by the sequential method noted above or by the rapid deployment method.

In any event, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the encircling segment J is tilted or positioned (placed) at an angle, for example, an acute angle, such as an acute angle greater (or less shallow) than the angle employed with regard to the sequential method noted above, e.g., at an angle of about 20° to about 25°, relative to the through segment, designated as segment K1, so that the major diameter of encircling segment J is located at such angle relative to the major diameter of the through segment K1. A passing (pulling) force is applied to the through segment K1, for example, by manually pulling end 14 to cause the through segment K1 to pass into, through and out of the through opening of the encircling segment J.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate a portion of the movement of through segment K1 through encircling segment J. The angular positioning of encircling segment J relative to through segment K1, as described elsewhere herein, facilitates the movement of through segment K1 through the through opening of encircling segment J. This angular positioning may be, and advantageously is, maintained throughout the movement of through segment K1 through encircling segment J. The ability to maintain this angular positioning throughout the movement of through segment K1 through encircling segment J is facilitated, or allowed, by the presence of the connecting zones between the segments. Some deflection (deformation) or distortion of one or both of encircling segment J and through segment K1 may occur, for example, at the point in the process shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B where the encircling segment J is located directly over the top of the through segment K1. In particular, as shown best in FIG. 11B, the top portion of through segment K1 is deformed vertically downward, relative to the other through segments K, K2, K3 and K4 shown in FIG. 11B, as through segment K1 is passed through encircling segment J. However, the segments are sufficiently resilient so that this does not cause any significant permanent change in the shape of the segments or the elongated strip.

Using the rapid deployment method, the amount of deformation of the encircling segment J and/or through segment K1 is reduced relative to the amount of deformation resulting from passing the through segment K1 through the encircling segment J with the major diameter of encircling segment J positioned at a more shallow angle, for example, about 5°, to the major diameter of the through segment K1, and is even more reduced relative to the amount of deformation resulting from passing the through segment K1 through the encircling segment J with the major diameters of these two segments being parallel to each other. Because of such reduced deformation, a reduced amount of force is needed to pass through segment K1 through encircling segment J using the rapid deployment method, including the angular positioning described herein relative to the amount of force required to pass through segment K1 through encircling segment J with the major diameters of these segments positioned at a more shallow acute angle relative to each other or with the major diameters of these segments positioned parallel to each other.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate the result of passing the through segment K1 into through and out of the encircling segment J. Note that the angle of encircling segment J relative to through segment K2 is similar or substantially the same as the angle of encircling segment J relative to through segment K1 before segment K1 was passed through encircling segment J. Compare FIGS. 10B and 12B.

At least a portion of the passing force is maintained on through segment K1 after segment K1 has passed out of the through opening of the encircling segment J. This maintaining facilitates or causes a number, i.e., one, two or more, of other or additional through segments, such as K2 and K3 shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, to rapidly, e.g. in rapid succession, pass into, through and out of the through opening of encircling segment J.

For example, and without limitation, about 5 or about 10 or about 12 or more segments can be passed into, through and out of the through opening of the first segment in about 1 second. The passing force required for this rapid passing step is quite low, for example, on the order of about 1 to about 2 pounds, and can easily be provided manually by a single human with no separate tool or implement.

This rapid passing or deployment method facilitates the rapid and effective deployment of the strip apparatus in the desired application.

As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, when the desired number of through segments, e.g. K, K1, K2 and K3, have been passed through the through opening of encircling segment J, the position of encircling segment J can be adjusted so that the major axes of the encircling segment J and the through segments, such as through segment K3, are parallel or substantially parallel to each other.

Without wishing to limit the present invention to any particular theory of operation, it is believed that the rapid passing or deployment method is facilitated by the connecting zones of the present apparatus. For example, without the connecting zones, that is in an identical strip apparatus in which the segments are directly adjacent (not spaced apart from) each other with no connecting zones in between, the identical strip apparatus would be less flexible relative to the present apparatus. In addition, in such an identical apparatus without connecting zones, because there would be no space between the segments, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to place the encircling segment at a desired angle relative to the through segment in order to obtain the rapid deployment method described herein, and it would require substantially more force and/or result in substantially more distortion of the segments to pass a through segment through an encircling segment relative to the force required using the rapid deployment method. In one embodiment, the size, for example, the length and/or width, of the connection zones are selected to facilitate, and even to allow, the angular positioning and the maintaining of the angular positioning of the encircling segment relative to the through segments, for example, to obtain the rapid deployment method, as described herein.

It is believed that the size/configuration of the connecting zones of the present apparatus, for example, together with one or more other features, are significant in providing the present apparatus with the rapid deployment capabilities described herein.

Although the angle at which the first or encircling segment is placed relative to the second or through segment or segments, for example, relative to the major diameter of the second or through segment or segments, may vary, for example, depending on one or more variables, such as, without limitation, the material of construction, size and specific configuration of the strip apparatus in accordance with the present invention, as well as other variables, the angle at which the encircling segment is placed relative to the through segment or segments is such that the major diameter of the encircling segment is positioned at an acute angle, that is an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° relative to the major diameter of the through segment or segments, or in a range of about 15° to about 40° relative to the major diameter of the through segment or segments, or about 18° to about 35° relative to the major diameter of the through segment or segments, or about 18° to about 30° relative to the major diameter of the through segment or segments. In one embodiment, the encircling segment may be placed so that its major diameter is positioned at an angle of about 22° relative to the major diameter of the through segment or segments.

Once deployed, the present strip apparatus is effective to maintain its deployed configuration under tensile load conditions commonly or normally occurring in the application in which the strip apparatus is deployed.

The elongated strip 12 can be removed from the application by unlinking or uncoupling the segments of the strip apparatus. In particular, after the strip has been used in the application, as desired, the passing force can be applied in the opposite direction to cause the through segment or segments to be passed back into, through and out of the encircling segment or segments, thereby restoring the strip to its original configuration. The elongated strip is then available for use in another application, as desired. The structure of the strip apparatus may be such that the elongated strip can be repeatedly used or reused without adversely affecting the structure of the strip apparatus or its component parts.

As shown in FIG. 14, the elongated strip 12 of strip apparatus 10 may be used to fasten together two or more objects, for example, medical tubes, writing instruments, and the like, etc.

Once the elongated strip 12 of strip apparatus 10 is applied to an object or objects under tensile load conditions, the ends of the strip can be folded back into the through hole of one or more of the segments. This is shown in FIG. 15, and provides an effective, compact, substantially flat deployed configuration.

One useful advantage of the present apparatus is that the strip apparatus 10, as well as other embodiments of the present apparatus disclosed herein, can be very effectively made to lay flat against the surface or surfaces of the object or objects to which it is attached. In prior art devices, for example, devices which does not include connecting zones as in the present strip, it is difficult if not impossible to cause the strip to lie substantially flat against the surface of the object or objects to which it is in contact, for example, under load conditions.

FIG. 15 illustrates a use of the present strip in which the strip is secured or coupled to a single object. In this embodiment, the strip may act as a friction device making it easier to handle or hold the object to which it is secured or is in contact.

The present apparatus, such as strip apparatus 10 and other embodiments of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention, can be employed in any application for which it has a useful purpose. For example, the present apparatus may be employed in various and diverse applications. Among such applications are included, without limitation, the applications disclosed elsewhere herein, to hold sunglasses in place on a person's body; to hold medical, surgical, dental, and other tubes and/or other objects together, for example, during a procedure in which such tubes are to be used; to hold other types of conduits, pipes, cables, other objects, for example, cloth objects and the like together and/or out of the way.

Strip apparatus in accordance with the present invention can be sized and made of materials that would be so strong as to not be possible to assemble manually, e.g., by hand, but can be assembled using tools, machines robotic equipment and the like for industrial uses where the loads needed to assemble (for deployment) the apparatus are low but the tensile load capacities of the deployed apparatus are significantly or substantially higher, for example and without limitation, at least an order of magnitude higher.

Strip apparatus in accordance with the present invention, may be structured to be suited for forming multiple loops as needed and, thus, can be used, for example and without limitation, to link two support poles on either side of a tree seedling for gentle support, and in other applications in which multiple loops are needed or desired. A strip apparatus in accordance with the present invention sized and effective to form three or more loops may be used.

The strip apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be produced by any one or a combination of a number of different high volume production procedures, for example and without limitation, such as die cutting, extrusion, for example, followed by continuous moving mold forming, injection molding and the like manufacturing techniques. Injection molding can produce discrete parts or can be configured to overmold the end of one elongated strip, for example, a previously produced strip, with an end of the next elongated strip to be molded to produce a continuous elongated strip, for example of great length, which may be wound on a reel, and cut into lengths for use as needed.

In one embodiment, for injection molding, the mold is made from tool steel or from stainless steel, such as hard 400 series stainless steel. The mold cavity may be split symmetrically such that each half of the mold contains a cavity making one side of the strip apparatus.

The fabricating process for the injection molding embodiment may employ well-known procedures for injection molding, described in many reference books such as Rubin, Irvin I., Injection Molding: Theory and Practice (John Wiley & sons, Inc. 1972). In this case, a thermoplastic polymeric material, such as a polyamide, e.g., nylon, in the form of pellets, may be used. The pellets are melted and then injected into the injection mold, which is set at a suitable temperature, for example, at about 140° F. if the strip is made of polyamide. After a brief cooling cycle, the mold opens and the molded part is ejected from the mold by use of well-known ejection pins, releasing the elongated strip product.

The following patents are somewhat related to the invention set forth herein. These patents include Brombacher U.S. Pat. No. 370,239; Smith U.S. Pat. No. 2,361,506; Bigaovette U.S. Pat. No. 3,114,194; Lige U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,054; Borisof U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,354; Evans U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,095; Oltmanns U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,203; Daniell, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,872; Joubert et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,101; Orton U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,346; Gill U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,118; Harsley U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,376; Katz U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,250; Stagnaro U.S. Pat. No. 7,131,167; Diggle, III et al, U.S. Pat. No. 7,175,160; Diggle, III et al, U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,364; MacHock U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,396; Canadian Patent No. 692,631; French Patent No. 1,281,537; Great Britain Patent No. 455,178; and Great Britain Patent No. 1,056,740. Each of these patents, as well as any other patent and any other publication identified herein, is incorporated herein in it's entirely by reference.

While this invention has been described with respect to various specific examples and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that it can be variously practiced within the scope of the following claims. 

1. An apparatus comprising: a strip comprising a plurality of spaced apart segments, each segment defining a through opening, and a plurality of connecting zones, each connecting zone located between and separating two adjacent spaced apart segments, the plurality of spaced apart segments being sized and structured to allow at least one segment to be passed into, through and out of the through opening of at least one other segment, and at least one of the connecting zones is structured to be more flexible than the adjacent spaced apart segments between the at least one connecting zone.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strip has a length along which the plurality of spaced apart segments and the plurality of connecting zones extend side by side, and a width and a thickness which are perpendicular to each other and to the length, wherein the length is larger than the width and the width is larger than the thickness.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the segments and the through openings have a larger maximum dimension along the width of the strip than along the length of the strip.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the segments has substantially the same size and shape and each of the through openings has substantially the same size and shape.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the segments and the through openings are substantially ovoid or substantially elliptical in shape.
 9. (canceled)
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the segments has an inner wall defining the through opening and an oppositely disposed outer wall, and at least a portion of the inner wall is chamfered.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, which is structured to allow at least one segment to be passed into, through and out of the through openings of two or more other segments manually, without the use of a separate tool.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the connecting zones includes a through hole.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the through hole is substantially circular or substantially oblong.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the segments and each of the connecting zones has a maximum thickness, and the maximum thickness of each of the connecting zones is substantially equal to or reduced relative to the maximum thickness of the adjacent spaced apart segments between each connecting zone. 16-21. (canceled)
 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strip is a unitary, molded structure comprising a polymeric material.
 23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strip further comprises at least one portion which is devoid of segments and connecting zones.
 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strip further comprises at least one end portion located at an end of the strip which is devoid of segments and connecting zones.
 25. (canceled)
 26. An apparatus comprising: an elongated strip comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart segments and a plurality of connecting zones, each connecting zone coupled to, and located between two adjacent segments, each of the segments including an outer rim and a through opening defined by the outer rim, both the outer rim and the through opening of each segment having substantially ovoid shapes, the segments being sized and structured to allow one segment to pass into, through and out of the through opening of at least one other segment, and at least one of the connecting zones structured to be more flexible than the adjacent spaced apart segments between the at least one connecting zone.
 27. (canceled)
 28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the strip has a length along which the plurality of spaced apart segments and the plurality of connecting zones extend side by side, and a width and a thickness which are perpendicular to each other and to the length, wherein the length is larger than the width and the width is larger than the thickness.
 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein each outer rim and each through opening has a major diameter substantially aligned with the width of the strip and a minor diameter substantially aligned with the length of the strip.
 30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein each of the outer rims has substantially the same size and each of the through openings has substantially the same size. 31-33. (canceled)
 34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein each of the plurality of connecting zones includes a through hole. 35-41. (canceled)
 42. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the strip comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material, and is a unitary molded structure.
 43. (canceled)
 44. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the strip further comprises at least one portion which is devoid of segments and connecting zones. 45-65. (canceled) 